Phlox plant named ‘Verswhite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Verswhite’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VERSWHITE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Verswhite’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new compact Phlox plants with attractiveflower coloration.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2005 in Haarlem, The Netherlands, of two unnamed seedlingselections of Phlox paniculata, not patented. The new Phlox plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Haarlem, The Netherlands in 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since 2007 has shown that theunique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Verswhite’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Verswhite’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. White-colored flowers.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ primarily inflower coloration. In addition, plants of the new Phlox have bettergarden performance than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phloxpaniculata ‘Fujiyama’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and‘Fujiyama’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more compact than plants of        ‘Fujiyama’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were sturdier than plants of        ‘Fujiyama’.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Fujiyama’.    -   4. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Fujiyama’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Verswhite’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Verswhite’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘Verswhite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in an outdoornursery in Haarlem, The Netherlands and under commercial practices.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C.to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 18° C. Plants weretwo years old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Verswhite’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Phlox            paniculata, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Phlox            paniculata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About six weeks at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright            and compact plant habit; broad inverted triangle; low to            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 36.6 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 38 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17.1 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 8.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A and            144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B to            143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D            and 147A; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 144C to            144D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;            flowers face upright and outwardly; panicles roughly conical            in shape; freely flowering habit with about 150 flower buds            and flowers developing per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate to strongly fragrant; sweet, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine            months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the            plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate. Color:            Close to 157D; towards the base, close to 145C.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:            About 3.9 cm. Lobe width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Spatulate.            Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to NN155C; throat, close to 150B. When            opening, lower surface: Close to NN155D; tube, 157A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; throat, close to            157C to 157D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C;            tube, 157D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:            About 9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 143C; towards the base and margins,            close to 143D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 143B and 144B; towards the base and margins, close to            143D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Angle: Main peduncle, erect; lateral peduncles, about 40°            from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 30° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five; fused with petals in tube. Filament length: About            1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther color: Close to 160D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Stigma shape: Three-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style length: About 2 cm. Style            color: Close to 145C to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 143A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to    be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox    have not been noted to be resistant to pests and other pathogens    common to Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Verswhite’ as illustrated anddescribed.